Jerusalem Photography – Page 46 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

What’s New in Jerusalem?

January 23, 2019Sharon A

I am always looking for something new to share.

Jerusalem, Israel has new buildings towering over the old.

These old houses are in Nachlaot near the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk.

The new tower on Jaffa Road rises above in the distance.

This photo looking towards the Old City was taken from the center of town.

A new view for me, how about you?

Look closely on the top right, after the snow and rain, the air was clear enough to see Jordan.

The official opening ceremony for the new Ramon Airport outside of Eilat was held this week. The airport control tower was already visible from the road in January 2016.

I have shared many photos of construction at the new WeWork building on King George Street.

WeWork opened in October as announced and has been busy since.

But a block away on King George Street another landmark building has also been under construction.

In January 2016, the old Knesset building on King George Street began renovations.

When panels went up in May 2016, people stopped to look at the historical scenes depicted on them.

On the right, a sign announced the future Knesset Museum.

The large tarp with larger than life Golda covering the building was removed. The panels have faded. However, the new Knesset Museum is far from completion.

The park off of Rachel Imenu Street has been hidden behind construction fencing for a while.

This week it was announced what was happening behind those walls.

On the surface it does not look impressive, but underground, an historic grotto was found.

Years ago a simple playground was located near the entrance to the Liberty Bell Park. It was demolished and the spot left vacant. Now after weeks of construction, Mayor Moshe Lion dedicated the new “Royal Playground” designed by Sue Ela.

The garden at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence, looked green and new in the midday sun.

Inside the main hall baskets of fresh fruits decorated the table for a Tu Bishvat seder.

Invited guests came from the agriculture and farming communities throughout Israel.

In the center of the hall was a display of ‘Seeds of Heritage’ ceramic plates by artist Orna Tamir Shestovich, with designs of plants and fruits of Israel.

The seder included four glasses of wine, from red to white, and samples of the Biblical “Seven Species” connected to the land of Israel.

Getting away towards the Talpiot neighborhood, new colorful paintings have appeared on the sides of buildings.

Along the main road across from Hadar Mall is a red structure designed as an outdoor eating area,

and another one nearby for playing games.

These flags outside Beit Hanasi are not new.

However, these near the Prime Minister’s Residence are new. Last week workers were putting up new light poles from which these banners are hung. The Israeli and Jerusalem flags are the same, but note that the PM state flags are white with a blue symbol, the Presidential ones the opposite.

The sun rises over quiet Zion Square to start a new day.

In the afternoon after the snow and rain had cleared, the sky was bright blue. The strong light from the sun created reflections of palm trees on the walls of Old City.

New flowers were forming in Jerusalem gardens and parks.

As usual a new demonstration was held near the Prime Minister’s residence.

And as usual, Jerusalem cats will pose for photos, or rather will stare you down in the warm sun and not be bothered enough to move. Nothing new in that.

So much more old and new on the Jerusalem streets.

So much more happening to share next time.

3 Suggestions to Enjoy Jerusalem in Stormy Weather

January 9, 2019Sharon A

This time of year, in Jerusalem, Israel, with the beginning of the Hebrew month of Shevat and the approaching “New Year of Trees,” we anticipate new growth and spring.

Walking yesterday toward the Knesset, I spotted the first wild flowers in bloom.

New paths are being prepared through the Valley of the Cross.

There are no blossoms on the almond trees yet, but new olive trees have been planted.

New benches have been placed along the new walking and bike path under development.

The Knesset rises beyond the construction site of the new National Library.

But then the weather turned from sunny to rainy and cold. Thanks to this bird who perched outside my window, I had something else to photograph other than the grey foggy sky.

People ask, “What is there to do when it is too nasty to be out on the Jerusalem streets?”

Here are three of the easiest answers to this often asked question:

The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem – BLMJ

BLMJ main galleries take visitors back to the earliest civilizations.

A new exhibit opened with pieces looted from archaeological sites in Judea and Samaria and recovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Each piece has a story, going back many centuries.

The Israel Museum

Across the road from BLMJ, one sees the dome of the Shrine of the Book, the home of Dead Sea Scrolls.

In the Israel Museum, the largest of Jerusalem’s dozens of museums, are collections of ancient Jewish life in the land of Israel.

Learn about ancient Egyptian Mummies on a audio-guided tour with the latest modern technology.

Of late, Jerusalem museums have taken a special interest in attracting and engaging children.

Multiple exhibits provide young people opportunities to explore and learn.

The Bloomfield Science Museum Jerusalem

The science museum had special exhibits on fire for Hanukkah, which were very popular the last days when it was raining.

Check in with information when you enter.

There are exhibits which are temporary

and are constantly changing to engage young minds.

Makerspace was in the main hall on my last visit.

Young people were encouraged to design and fly their own paper airplanes.

There was a reading section called Challenge and Risk.

Notice that everything in these museums is in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.

Colors and technology are used to attract visually,

though sometimes simple things can be made interesting too.

Outside areas are much more popular when the weather is pleasant.

Play areas outside change regularly and are designed to teach basic scientific principles.

This new age dinosaur can be found on the grounds outside.

I do not think this is the tree of knowledge.

But there is no better place to start for toddlers to explore and learn.

These museums, located near each other, have places to eat, and provide more than shelter.

But I must repeat my warning, if you are supervising young children,

do NOT try and do any of the amazing Jerusalem museums if you are a tired adult.

Another piece of advice: check museum hours before going, as they vary day by day.

If you do not have membership, there are days free for children, but costs vary and can be expensive.

However, in honor of Space Week, the Bloomfield Science Museum is offering free entrance.

Even if Jerusalem is warm and the sun is shining, worth checking out.

Enjoy!

Jerusalem: Looking Forward 2019

January 2, 2019Sharon A

At the end of December, with each calendar year, many ‘best’ and ‘worst’ lists are published.

After spending considerable time thinking about it, in the end, I decided to let 2018 just slip away.

As the sun set on December 31, 2018, the skies over Jerusalem, Israel, were a blaze of color.

Walking home, I could tell it was going to be dramatic end for 2018, and was not disappointed.

The red horizon popped with color on numerous photos I saw posted on Facebook.

January not only has red sunsets popping with color, but purple flowers lining so many streets.

January skies can be blue one minute,

but then turn around a few minutes later to become grey and threatening.

With the Christian Orthodox Christmas still to be celebrated in January, holiday decorations still line the streets inside the Old City; these are near Jaffa Gate.

This young woman dressed in a white bridal gown attracted a second glance.

A record numbers of tourists arrived in Israel in 2018. The plaza in front of the Hurva Synagogue was full with hundreds of tours, large and small.

I met this couple from Germany who stopped to look out from the Old City.

The sounds of these school boys at play below got our attention.

The numerous tour groups included school children; these first graders came from Pardes Chana for the day.

They stopped for a lunch break near the Four Sephardic Synagogues in the Jewish Quarter.

When Jordanian Legion captured and occupied the Old City in 1948, all the Jewish residents were forced out.

Then Jordan proceeded to take over all Jewish property, and destroyed or occupied all of the synagogues.

The Four Sephardic Synagogues established centuries earlier were restored after 1967, and put back to use as Jewish houses of prayer.

From 1977, only an arch stood, where the rebuilt Hurva Synagogue, dedicated May 15, 2011, stands today.

Tiferet Israel was the only remaining destroyed synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem, as seen in this 2010 photograph.

A Jordanian soldier stands on the Tiferet Israel ruins in this 1948 photo by Chalil Rissas, which was part of the Tower of David photography exhibit.

On January 1, 2019, this is how the outside wall of Tiferet Israel looked.

Inside a construction crew was busy working on its reconstruction and restoration.

Tiferet Israel is across from the Karaite Synagogue, one of the oldest in the world.

For those who have walked the streets of the Old City, Tiferet Israel will rise above the “main street” which leads to the Western Wall, the Kotel, from the Rova, the Jewish Quarter Plaza.

Or maybe easier to visualize, it is next to a better known landmark, the shwarma place.

The project to rebuild and replace the synagogue destroyed on May 21, 1948 is finally underway.

The laying of cornerstone of the new old Tiferet Israel took place on December 31, 2018.

Hopefully it will not take 10 years to complete as did the Hurva rebuilding.

Hope you enjoyed this quick stroll through a few favorite Jerusalem, Israel streets.

I will conclude with this bit of Teddy Park I passed on way my way home.

Most people today do not realize, all of this was either under Jordanian rule or in No Man’s Land from 1948-1967.

Jerusalem, Israel, with its ancient sites, and always with something new.

As the pretty purple flowers bloom, we look forward to 2019.